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Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Arsenal: Arsenal Player Ratings

Our player ratings for Arsenal during the North London derby yesterday.

Arsenal were extremely unlucky to lose to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, as a couple of pieces of poor defending cost the side big time after they built some solid early pressure, looking dangerous with every attack.

Szczesny: 6 – Didn’t really do an awful lot wrong with both of the goals the side conceded. Could maybe have given the defence a shout to drop a little deeper but otherwise looked quite commanding.

Jenkinson: 6 – A little unfortunate to be taken off with Ramsey moving into right back. Didn’t look as out of his depth as many may have been expecting and his hour will give him confidence.

Mertesacker: 5 – Did well to engineer Arsenal’s only goal but he is not quick enough or agile enough to play so high up the pitch. If he’d just show a little bit of a commanding presence, Arsenal would look like a better back four.

Vermaelen: 5 – As above. Needed to show a little more initiative when Arsenal didn’t have the ball. A simple glance over his shoulder would have allowed him to drop off and prevent Lennon’s goal.

Monreal: 6 – Provided valuable assistance when the side was going forward but made some poor defensive positions. What he was trying to do in playing Lennon offside is still a complete mystery.

Arteta: 6 – Not his best day at the office but he looked calm and composed throughout the first half an hour when Arsenal were on top. Had to be taken off for a tactical change when Arsenal were chasing the game.

Wilshere: 7 – Another who didn’t have his best game but he looked like one of Arsenal’s most likely attacking threats. Great power, pace and aggression for a small man.

Ramsey: 5 – Poor, especially when Arsenal went behind. Gave the ball away, hit crosses too long and sent a good chance into row z. Looked like a fish out of water when he got switched to right back.

Cazorla: 6 – Did relatively well throughout the opening period of the match but looked a little short of ideas when Arsenal were under pressure. However, still the best passer of the ball in the final third.

Walcott: 6 – Tried to utilise his pace and exploit Spurs when they pushed their defensive line high. Looked short of ideas when it became clear that Spurs had a clear plan to contain him.

Giroud: 6 – One of his better games in an Arsenal shirt in terms of his work rate and early effectiveness, but ultimately lacking as the game progressed and unable to provide a cutting edge. Needs to be more precise in the opponent’s final third and find different ways to bully a defence.

Subs

Rosicky: 5 – Came on after an hour and added greater composure in the middle as Ramsey was pushed into the defence.

Podolski: N/A – Tried to get into the game but never really had the time.

Lewis Doe

Lewis Doe is a freelance writer and editor who seeks to bring you the biggest, smallest and most interesting stories from the football world. Lewis has previously written for some of the biggest football news and opinion sites in the world including FootballFanCast and Goal.com International. Lewis is also experienced writing in the betting industry and aims to deliver his stories with up to date factual and statistical information. He hopes to sum up stories for the site and provide an angle on the issue moving forward.Lewis is HITC Sport's La Liga correspondent.